6 ms·

So the FAQ does give a little hope for that and stuff like gay/trans rights. > WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE JUDICIAL AND REGUL ATORY FRAMEWORK THAT WILL GOVERN AL

by rtkwe 9y ago

So the FAQ does give a little hope for that and stuff like gay/trans rights. > WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE JUDICIAL AND REGUL ATORY FRAMEWORK THAT WILL GOVERN ALL CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS IN NEOM? > NEOM will be the world’s first independent special zone spanning three countries, with a regulatory framework designed to adopt world-class investment laws that support the livelihoods of residents and the development of targeted economic sectors. The special zone will also adopt an autonomous judicial system subject to independent regulations and legislation, which will be drafted by investors in accordance with international best practice. The zone will be independent of the Kingdom’s existing governmental framework, excluding sovereign laws. Social norms in Neom will adopt leading practices to improve standards of livability for its residents and visitors. and clarifying 'independent systems' a little later: > The project will be developed within a specialized zone, independent of the Kingdom’s existing governmental framework, excluding sovereign laws, in regards to taxation, customs, labor laws, and other legal parameters pertaining to business. As such, a zone within an independent system gives industry the ability to manufacture and provide, goods and services at globally competitive prices So it sounds like they at least want to shed the more regressive parts of the traditional Islamic culture in Saudi Arabia to bring in international visitors who are reticent to visit or invest in Saudi Arabia because of the way the laws treat women/homosexuals/etc.

tom_mellior 9y ago
> to bring in international visitors who are reticent to visit or invest in Saudi Arabia because of the way the laws treat women/homosexuals/etc. ... but who are still willing to work there and pay taxes to support this very system.
- rtkwe 9y ago
  Yeah, there's definitely a decent set of people who won't go today because of the personal risk but would participate in the Saudi economy if the risk to themselves was removed. I wasn't talking about people with a moral objection though but even among that group there'd be a number willing to participate probably giving a 'show them that this is better and works' justification to themselves.
microcolonel 9y ago
> So it sounds like they at least want to shed the more regressive parts of the traditional Islamic culture in Saudi Arabia to bring in international visitors who are reticent to visit or invest in Saudi Arabia because of the way the laws treat women/homosexuals/etc. It seems more like they're just dancing around the issue to me. Neom is still under the full control of a Sunni theocracy, it just has separate regulatory structures, like a SEZ in China.
- rtkwe 9y ago
  Just taking the FAQ at face value it seems like they will have free reign to decide what the laws are surrounding issues like this inside Zeom. Just going by the language there they'll be able to set their own laws about those issues. Of course that could all be just fluff and come to nothing but I think they know it's in their own self interest to open up and give this area more autonomy than the special economic zones in China in order to appease and attract investors/tourism without having to change the culture of the actual country.
- Udik 9y ago
  Is it easier to change the culture and the way of life of a country by introducing changes at a slow, steady pace, over a long period of time; or is it easier to do it by introducing abrupt changes in a small area, and then extend the area progressively until it covers the whole country? Might be what they're trying to do?
  - forkLding 9y ago
    Like in Hong Kong? In the end, its up to the government, and I dont think they want to abolish the absolute monarchy and introduce in democracy yet as it takes away the power of the Al-Saud family and might leave them vulnerable to political enemies
    - TheSpiceIsLife 9y ago
      I don't believe absolute monarchy and liberal society are necessarily mutually exclusive.
lucaspiller 9y ago
As someone else commented, it sounds like Dubai 2.0. The UAE and other Gulf states were just as traditional as KSA, but while they have relaxed their customs to make their countries more appealing to Westerners, KSA has stayed true to it’s roots. It seems like this is an experiment for KSA to try the same thing, but without upsetting the more traditional members of their population who still believe the way they do things right now is best. KSA is the biggest country in the Gulf and has the best economy, so they haven’t needed to attract outsiders in the past unlike other countries, but as the end of oil gets closer they are obviously looking to diversify their economy.

by rtkwe 9y ago

tom_mellior 9y ago

> to bring in international visitors who are reticent to visit or invest in Saudi Arabia because of the way the laws treat women/homosexuals/etc. ... but who are still willing to work there and pay taxes to support this very system.

rtkwe 9y ago
Yeah, there's definitely a decent set of people who won't go today because of the personal risk but would participate in the Saudi economy if the risk to themselves was removed. I wasn't talking about people with a moral objection though but even among that group there'd be a number willing to participate probably giving a 'show them that this is better and works' justification to themselves.

microcolonel 9y ago

> So it sounds like they at least want to shed the more regressive parts of the traditional Islamic culture in Saudi Arabia to bring in international visitors who are reticent to visit or invest in Saudi Arabia because of the way the laws treat women/homosexuals/etc. It seems more like they're just dancing around the issue to me. Neom is still under the full control of a Sunni theocracy, it just has separate regulatory structures, like a SEZ in China.

rtkwe 9y ago
Just taking the FAQ at face value it seems like they will have free reign to decide what the laws are surrounding issues like this inside Zeom. Just going by the language there they'll be able to set their own laws about those issues. Of course that could all be just fluff and come to nothing but I think they know it's in their own self interest to open up and give this area more autonomy than the special economic zones in China in order to appease and attract investors/tourism without having to change the culture of the actual country.
Udik 9y ago
Is it easier to change the culture and the way of life of a country by introducing changes at a slow, steady pace, over a long period of time; or is it easier to do it by introducing abrupt changes in a small area, and then extend the area progressively until it covers the whole country? Might be what they're trying to do?
- forkLding 9y ago
  Like in Hong Kong? In the end, its up to the government, and I dont think they want to abolish the absolute monarchy and introduce in democracy yet as it takes away the power of the Al-Saud family and might leave them vulnerable to political enemies
  - TheSpiceIsLife 9y ago
    I don't believe absolute monarchy and liberal society are necessarily mutually exclusive.

lucaspiller 9y ago

As someone else commented, it sounds like Dubai 2.0. The UAE and other Gulf states were just as traditional as KSA, but while they have relaxed their customs to make their countries more appealing to Westerners, KSA has stayed true to it’s roots. It seems like this is an experiment for KSA to try the same thing, but without upsetting the more traditional members of their population who still believe the way they do things right now is best. KSA is the biggest country in the Gulf and has the best economy, so they haven’t needed to attract outsiders in the past unlike other countries, but as the end of oil gets closer they are obviously looking to diversify their economy.